Apparatus and method for filling and sealing valved bags

A method for filling and sealing one or more sealable valved bags, wherein the sealable valved bags are provided with outwardly extending sealable valve structures, the apparatus being disposed at a selected position along a processing path, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing a sealable valved bag in an upright position on a support operably configured for receiving, in succession, a plurality of sealable valved bags, the support being operably configured to maintain each successive sealable valved bag in an upright, substantially erect orientation, with its sealable valve structure extending substantially horizontally toward the apparatus for filling and sealing one or more containers;
• filling the bag with a filling tube, operably connectable at one end to a source of filling material, the filling tube further having at an opposite end a filling nozzle, operably configured to enable the sealable valve structure of a sealable valved bag to fit around the filling nozzle,
• the filling tube being operably configured to be reciprocably moved between a filling position to enable operable engagement with the sealable valve structure of a sealable valved bag, and a standoff position substantially removed from the sealable valved bag,
• the filling tube being further operably positioned at a selected position along the processing path;
• and
• sealing the bag with a sealing apparatus, while maintaining the bag in its upright position on the support, the sealing apparatus including at least one sealing member operably configured to be reciprocably moved between a sealing position in operable engagement with a sealable valve structure of a sealable valved bag, and a standoff position substantially removed from the sealable valved bag;
• and
• further comprising the step of reciprocably pivoting and translating the filling tube between a horizontal filling position and a retracted position, in which the filling tube is tilted, filling nozzle upward, and moved backward from the horizontal filling position.

A method for filling and sealing one or more sealable valved bags, wherein the sealable valved bags are provided with outwardly extending sealable valve structures, the apparatus being disposed at a selected position along a processing path, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing a sealable valved bag in an upright position on a support operably configured for receiving, in succession, a plurality of sealable valved bags, the support being operably configured to maintain each successive sealable valved bag in an upright, substantially erect orientation, with its sealable valve structure extending substantially horizontally toward the apparatus for filling and sealing one or more containers;
• filling the bag with a filling tube, operably connectable at one end to a source of filling material, the filling tube further having at an opposite end a filling nozzle, operably configured to enable the sealable valve structure of a sealable valved bag to fit around the filling nozzle,
• the filling tube being operably configured to be reciprocably moved between a filling position to enable operable engagement with the sealable valve structure of a sealable valved bag, and a standoff position substantially removed from the sealable valved bag,
• the filling tube being further operably positioned at a selected position along the processing path;
• and
• sealing the bag with a sealing apparatus, while maintaining the bag in its upright position on the support, the sealing apparatus including at least one sealing member operably configured to be reciprocably moved between a sealing position in operable engagement with a sealable valve structure of a sealable valved bag, and a standoff position substantially removed from the sealable valved bag;
• and
• further comprising the step of reciprocably pivoting and translating the filling tube between a horizontal filling position and a retracted position, in which the filling tube is tilted, filling nozzle downward, and moved backward from the horizontal filling position.

A method for filling and sealing one or more sealable valved bags, wherein the sealable valved bags are provided with outwardly extending sealable valve structures, the apparatus being disposed at a selected position along a processing path, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing a sealable valved bag in an upright position on a support operably configured for receiving, in succession, a plurality of sealable valved bags, the support being operably configured to maintain each successive sealable valved bag in an upright, substantially erect orientation, with its sealable valve structure extending substantially horizontally toward the apparatus for filling and sealing one or more containers;
• filling the bag with a filling tube, operably connectable at one end to a source of filling material, the filling tube further having at an opposite end a filling nozzle, operably configured to enable the sealable valve structure of a sealable valved bag to fit around the filling nozzle,
• the filling tube being operably configured to be reciprocably moved between a filling position to enable operable engagement with the sealable valve structure of a sealable valved bag, and a standoff position substantially removed from the sealable valved bag,
• the filling tube being further operably positioned at a selected position along the processing path;
• and
• sealing the bag with a sealing apparatus, while maintaining the bag in its upright position on the support, the sealing apparatus including at least one sealing member operably configured to be reciprocably moved between a sealing position in operable engagement with a sealable valve structure of a sealable valved bag, and a standoff position substantially removed from the sealable valved bag;
• and
• further comprising the step of reciprocably moving the filling tube horizontally, between a filling position and a position moved backward from the filling position.